Article 326 of the UCI anti-doping rules establishes a fine corresponding to the net annual income of any rider committing an offense sanctioned by a suspension of two years or more.

After serving a reduced ban the 35-year-old Italian was required to cough up 173,600 euros, a fine he has duly paid, according to the UCI, which added: “He is therefore eligible again for competition, under the condition he pays 8,000 euro to cover procedural costs by 11 February.”

Di Luca, who won the Giro in 2007, recently signed a deal with the Russian team Katusha, although it was reported he would ride for free and be paid only win bonuses.

Suspended for two years and initially fined 280,000 euros for his 2009 positives, Di Luca’s rapid return to the peloton came thanks to his collaboration with ongoing investigations into doping, which helped reduce his penalty significantly.